07 Feb 2021  |   05:57am IST

A heritage hotspot is falling to concretisation, tree by tree, brick by brick

One of Goa’s prettiest villages, with quaint stately old homes and leafy boulevards, Assagao, is now referred to by many locals and even outsiders as ‘ mini- Delhi’, an euphemism for the rest of India, with Delhi’s presence felt more than other cities. While the village is home to many sensitive folks who have moved in -- writers, poets designers, musicians and film-makers, it has not escaped the not so beautiful side of this expansion -- construction projects including gated housing, often with adverse environmental impacts. ASMITA POLJI reports on this from Assagao

ASMITA POLJI

The current protests over the felling of trees for the Vianaar project at Assagao is certainly not isolated

A perfect example of the indirect concretisation of the State is in Assagao village where more than 20 residential projects are coming up which includes villas with private pools and gardens up to 3 BHK.

Assagao, which is one of the heritage villages of Goa, is on the verge of losing it heritage value since the government is supposedly encouraging concretisation of the village. Not one but at present work of around 22 residential projects is ongoing in the Assagao village while making homes for outsiders to settle down in the State and making the forest animals homeless by destroying their habitats.

Over the last few years, the Assagao village has witnessed several tree felling incidents (see box) and the recent example is people protested against the residential project of Vianar opposite to St Cajetan church where villagers of Assagao came out on the road raising their voice and condemning the act of Vianaar building for its alleged felling an ancient Banyan tree and over 200 other trees in a private property opposite of St Cajetan Church Assagao.

If one considers the before and after scenario of this property opposite to the church, this particular property in Assagao used to remain densely covered with trees and plantation during the monsoons however during the site inspection conducted by the forest officials almost 70 per cent of the land was allegedly found cleared. (Read the related story of the people’s protests against this)

“Goa is not only known for its beaches and night parties but also for its natural beauty which the builders are now trying to destroy by buying lands and chopping down the trees to make way for housing projects such as villas for Delhi and Mumbai people while destroying the habitat of the animals living in here as well as destroying the natural water sources,” Pia Krishen an Assagao resident said.

“Goa is a hotspot of biodiversity and Assagao is a heritage village but under the banner of sustainable development, the builders are actually harming nature by cutting down the tree,” Pia Krishen added.

Stating that more than twenty projects are coming up in the Assagao village while violating all the laws, Paul Rodrigues an architect and resident of Assagao said, “As per the standard procedure, these builders cover up the property and then cut down all the trees in the property.”

Rodrigues further added, “They are trying to create township of the village but people of Assagao don’t want this or the township. The main culprit behind this is the Town and Country planning who issue permissions with no proper set back in place. Unfortunately, the local Panchayat is not even bothered to question the authorities or builders based on what the permissions are given or received. If TCP issues permissions as per the rules then in the future, it will lead to flooding,” Paul claimed. As per sources, the illegal tree felling issue has continued to haunt the villagers of Assagao. The issue of illegal tree felling and selling of private land and then clearing the land to make way for constructions was raised several times in the gram sabhas of Assagao village Panchayat but it has not come up with any concrete solution.

It is also noticeable that when TCP issues permissions for any construction, the local Panchayat blindly issues permission without even inspecting the site or looking at the plan. It is also learnt that if any builders manage to receive permissions from the TCP, builders hardly bother to take permission of the local Panchayat.

“Uncontrolled constructions are happening all over the village. Builders are buying land and then cutting down the trees to clear the land. There are many such projects that are coming up in Assagao in parallel with total contravention of law. Construction activities all over the village are destroying the village and the environment all over which needs to be stopped,” a local claimed

The Assagao Sarpanch, Hanumant  Naik said “The government should stop issuing sanads and issue a circular by identifying survey numbers with forest cover, stating that sanads of this land will not be issued if the land is more than a specified area. If this is done then no owner will be able to sell their property”.

Naik further informed that taking into consideration the present water issue in the village, the Assagao village Panchayat has stopped issuing NOC to outsiders for water connections. Connections are only given to those of Goan origin